When I first came across this thread, I was reminded of an article I had read for a Popular Culture class. The thrust of the article was teenagers identify with monster movies because of the changes, physical and sexual, that they are going through. While the author had something there, I don't believe that the sexual engine is absolute.

I see Frankenstein's monster as an abandoned child, a bastard child; even worse, a child unaccepted even by his peers…and harassed to point of unreasoning rage. I think we might see that feature at any high school near you.

I know that the filmmakers bring specific ideas to their work, but sometimes the audience may see something that that was not necessarily intended by the filmmakers. The engines of motivation are as varied as the films and the monsters.

Ozzymandias speaks: My novel, Real George, takes place at the height of the Shock Theater craze. George is twelve and very unpopular at school. He identifies with Frankenstein. The awkwardness with women causes him to identify with the Creature From the Black Lagoon (which he sees at the theater) and fantasize about Marilyn Monroe (Remember her line about CFBL in Seven Year Itch). I was writing another chapter and discovered I could tie the Wolf Man in with the stiffening that happens when twelve year old boys get around girl.